Combination step-ladder and bench.



No. 708,290. Patented Sept. 2, 1902 a. T. WBITT.

COMBINATION STEP LADDER AND BENCH.

' (Application filed May 13, 1901.),

(N0 Mngiel.)

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JOHN T. l/VRITT, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINATION STEP-LADDER AND BENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,290, dated September 2, 1902.

Application filed May 13, 1901. $erial No. 59,986. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: m

Be it known thatl, JOHN T. WRITT, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Pittsburg, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combination Step-Ladder and Bench, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in Which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention erected as a step-ladder. Fig.2 is a similar view in position for use as a bench or table. Fig. 3 is a partial detail viewon an enlarged scale, showing the inner face of the back and illustrating the means fordistending the ladder-legs and also the bench-brace. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line IV IV of Fig. 2.

My invention consists of a combination step-ladder and bench by means of which the ladder is easily and quickly converted into a bench, and vice versa.

Referring to the drawings, 2 2 are the main front step-supportin g members provided with steps 3 and a rigid top 4, made in the usual manner. Pivotally connected at 5 by a crossbar 6 is the. back, consisting of side members 7, with outer supplemental legmembers 8, While the intervening space between the members 7 is occupied by longitudinal strips 9,- constituting the platform ortop of the bench. Both side members and leg members, as well as the strips 9, are connected to a cross-bar 10 at the top, while near the bottom all these members, except the outer members 8, are connected and rigidly joined by a cross-bar 11, the outer leg members 8 being free to be extended laterally somewhat, so as to provide a more substantial support for the ladder. The members 8 are distended by togglearms 12, pivotally connected to them at 13 by bolts and connected together at 14 by a common headed pin or bolt, the inner end of which enters and is capable of moving longitudinally in a slot 15, formed in ametal strip 10, secured to the middle slat of the benchtop. By this means the legs are held distended, as in Fig. l, by throwing the bolt 14 down or drawn in close, as in Figs. 2, 3, and i, for use as a bench by throwing the bolt up. Pivotally connected at about the upper tending through the cross-bar or by bolts screwed into it is a pair of brace members 17, one on each side, connected by a cross-bar 18, which in the erected position of the stepladder, as shown in Fig. 1, drops into and engages recesses 19 in the front upper portion of the step-supporting members 2, such recesses entering from the front and then being turned downwardly, so that the bar 18 will be securely held from disengagement. These members 17 and the bar 18 in such position firmly brace the ladder and the back supporting-legs and bench portion, so that it will remain erected, as shown. When used as a bench,these brace members 17 are drawn upwardly above retainingsprings 20, one at each side of the step-ladder, over which springs they ride, depressing the springs, which are each provided with a shoulder 21, adapted to spring outwardly behind the brace 17, as shown in Fig. 2, thus securely holding such brace members, in which position they act as supporting-legs for one end of the bench. The other support is provided by the lower ends of the step-supporting members 2. The lower cross-bar 11 has pivotally depending from it a pair of braces22, connected by bar 23, the lower ends of such braces being'adapted to be seated in recesses 24 in the back step-supporting members, as shown in Fig.2,and the length of the braces 22 is made so that the top of the bench portion willbe maintained in a level position. For the purpose of-more securely holding the braces 22 against disengagement theyare provided with lip eX- tensions 25, which are placed on the inner side of the step-supporting members and project somewhat beyond the recesses 2 1.

As thus constructed my improved step-ladder is well adapted for the objectsin view and provides acombination step-ladder and bench without the addition of very much more mechanism than that of the ordinary step-ladder, while doubling its efficiency.

It is very simple in construction, easy and cheap to build and operate, and will be found to be available and a useful article of domestic use.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a step-ladder the combination of ladder members provided with steps and a top, back supporting-legs therefor pivotally connected to the framework of theladder,closelyassembled slat members, a double-sided brace pivotally connected with the supporting-leg structure provided with a cross-bar and extended lips, adapted to engage retaining-recesses in the ladder members, and means for distending and adjusting the supporting-legs.

2. In a step-ladder the combination of ladder members provided with steps and a top, back supporting-legs therefor pivotally connected with the framework of the ladder, a double-sided brace pivotally connected with the supporting-leg structure provided with a cross-bar adapted to engage the retaining-recesses in the ladder members, a spring-retaining device adapted to hold such brace members in a raised position and means for distending and adjusting the supporting-legs.

3. In a step-ladder, the combination of ladder members provided With steps, a top, and brace-retaining notches and spring devices, back supporting-legs pivotally connected With the ladder-framework, brace members pivotally connected with the supporting-leg structure and adapted to engage said retaining-notches and spring devices, longitudinal slat members closely assembled with the supporting-legs so as to constitute a bench, and supporting-braces therefor adapted to rest upon the ladder members.

4. In a step-ladder the combination of ladder members provided with steps, a top, and brace-retaining notches and springs, back supporting-legs pivotally connected with the ladder-framework, brace members pivotally connected with the supporting-leg structure, and adapted to engage the retaining-notches and spring devices of the ladder structure, longitudinal slat members closely assembled with the supporting-legs, so as to constitute a bench, and supporting braces therefor adapted to rest upon the ladder members, and means for distending and adjusting the supporting-legs with relation to the benchslats.

Signed at Pittsburg this 25th day of March, 

